“Put a fancy lace border around these barn owls and you could send them to your sweetie on February 14. “Be mine!” you could say, “I love you with all my hearts!” Or when you’re ready to pop the question: “Let’s owlope.” And on your anniversary: “You’re still as owlluring as ever.”

“Talk about a heavy date! It’s their big love scene-a gigantic, frantic, romantic antic in the Atlantic. It’s a titanic, oceanic courtship on the order of an earthquake. Look out for the bridal tidal wave as they sink to entwine in the brine. Humpback whales are colossal, but they’re docile, which is lucky for us but it’s mighty unlucky for them. While they practiced non-violence, we preached the golden rule and perfected the harpoon.”-Charley Harper

“They see each other around the bird feeder all winter long, but one red-letter day in January they SEE each other. He offers her a sunflower seed (while she’s standing in them) and she accepts. As February Marches into April, the courtship quickens, and by the time the redbud’s in bloom, love is too. She weaves some leaves and twigs together, and just in time. As summer falls into winter, make sure you lay in enough sunflower seeds-an extra bag this year.”-Charley Harper